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Monday, December 7, 2015

Thank you to Jordan Debbink, Res Life Coordinator and Weekend Staff Supervisor, for writing today's blog.

On November 21st Shepherds College students and
Catalyst clients embarked on a challenge of wits and strength.Journeying through nine various geographical
regions, ten tribes geared up to compete in a game that many have called
“daring” and “adventurous.”They called
it:Survivor!

Survivor was staged in various rooms within the Wood Center
on the Shepherds grounds. Tribes met in
the gym for the opening Council Meeting, selected their tribal torch from the
inner circle and learned of the various challenges they were about to embark
upon.They also witnessed the
presentation of two immunity idols that were, at random, placed around the
building.

For the next two hours, tribes ventured into the darkest
jungles, climbed the highest mountain, found themselves stranded on a raft in
the ocean and created their tribal symbol and animal.At each location, tribes tested their
strengths and wits to overcome obstacles.They encountered jungle vines in the form of the human knot, natural
disasters while climbing the mountain, a selection of random items needed to
survive while stranded on the raft, and ate rations of oysters and sardines in
the blustering Arctic. At each challenge, they had the opportunity to earn
points to ultimately win the Skill Challenge!

As they ventured from challenge to challenge, Catalyst
clients and College students engaged in conversation, learning about each other
and working as a team to overcome the obstacles of the game.Tribes created team symbols like the
“Camelbacks” and “BatMen” and then totem animals out of various craft supplies.

The evening ended at the final Tribal Council in the
gym.Tribes filed in and faced the
elimination round.Tribes shouted out
their scores and plunged their torches into the inner circle!The Aqua and Blue tribes claimed victory by
using keen senses to find the Grass and Parrot immunity idols.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

We are in the midst of all the holiday festivities, and I am excited. Being a basement
stationery artist, I am attracted to the aisles of Christmas cards and wrapping
paper tantalizing my creativity and mood for this special season. I enjoy the
entire process involved in sending out cards: choosing just which card design
and words speaks to my heart, taking a family photo, writing the notes,
choosing the pen that fits my hand like a glove, listening to Christmas music
while I write, addressing the envelopes and the feel of the the ink on paper as
the cursive flows from my pen, and even deciding which Christmas stamp to use!

Every year since 2010, Shepherds
College has designed a card to send to those who lives touch the college
ministry and to whom we wish to send a special Christmas greeting. This year’s

a d o r a b l e card was designed
by one of our upcoming graduates, Olya
Porth, and I am excited to begin addressing
the envelopes so I can send them out!

Besides the college card, one of
our artistic residents, Melody Farr,
used her God-given talents to draw three different designs for the ministry’s
Christmas cards—also adorable! For only $10.00 for a package of 12, I scooped up three the
first day I saw them. Even the back of the cards shares an important message.
Placed around sweet little stars Melody drew and colored is this: “People with
disabilities... are people with abilities too.” It aligns perfectly with our philosophy
that each person is designed by God on purpose and for a purpose, and that our
mission is to train for life. That tiny nugget on the back of each card blessed
me, and I pray it will be noticed.

And if that weren’t enough,
Melody also created very colorful designs that have been reprinted on recipe
cards—so, so adorable (pardon my junior high-ish expressions) I literally
squealed when I first saw them on the counter in the marketing department. I purchased four sets immediately!Perfect stocking
stuffers or gifts for all my “foodie” sisters and friends. They are only $5.00
a pack, so they fit perfectly for a casual, low-cost gift exchange too!

As I stood squealing my delight
at the recipes, I could not hold back the cheer, “They are soadorable!”
to which the Director of Marketing replied, “Yep! They’re adorbs!” Apparently
that is the new lingo of the younger generation. Perhaps it stems from numerous
abbreviated words used for text messaging, but “adorbs” hit the spot for these
little masterpieces.

Check them out and feel free to
order them by emailing sgriffis@shepherdscollege.edu with your contact and credit card information. You can also call 262-878-5620 to order, or mail your order with a check to:

Friday, October 9, 2015

Parents, if you are
worried about what your son or daughter will do with their weekends if they
don’t come home, let us assure you there is never a dull moment around Shepherds College!
Our Residential Life Coordinator and Weekend Supervisor, Jordan Debbink,
continually scours community and online resources to provide fun, relaxing,
and interesting activities for all our students, and there is quite a variety
from which students may choose.

The Sign-up board for
activities is often full, and sometimes to overflowing, with choices. Students
exercise decision-making and budgeting skills as they consider the upcoming
possibilities. This year’s Student Activity board has already included sign-up
sheets for the following variety of activities:

Dog shows

YMCA

Grill and Games

Cookouts

Mexican Fiesta

Kite Flying

Nature Center

Brewers Game

Bowling

Car Show

Ice Skating Championship Show

Tickets to plays (James & the Giant Peach,
currently)

Gillmore Farm campfire, s’mores, and hayrides

Fall
Festivals

It is a joy to hear the
students gather outside the college office where the activity board hangs and
hear the buzz of conversation between classes as students decide what and why
they want others to join them in an outing.

Res Life staff work hard
to coordinate these events, reserve vehicles, consider the meal schedule and
meds they may need to take, and many other details as they strive to give our
students a great college experience laced with opportunities to grow in their independence,
as well as social and daily living skills.

A shout out and high 5 to
Jordan Debbink and all the staff who help make these creative activitieshappen! We hope it builds a scrapbook of
fond memories for our students as they continue their college journey.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Yesterday, the second-year students learned about elevator
speeches in their Personal and Professional Development 2 (PPD2) class. They all
had to create a 30 second elevator speech about themselves that they would then
have to practice on four different people.

The class came and visited us in the Development department to practice these speeches. One by one they came up and
introduced themselves, talked about their major and what they are currently
learning. They shared their hobbies and special interests, and told us something
that they are looking forward to this school year. All of them did a wonderful
job despite being nervous.

I figured, since I am new to Shepherds Ministries and all of
the second year students just introduced themselves to me by using these newly
learned elevator speeches, maybe I should write one and introduce myself this
way too. So, here is my elevator speech:

Hello, my name is Yvonne Tomczak.

I am the new Marketing/ Public Relations assistant here at
Shepherds. As the assistant, my duties vary every day. Some days I am
getting smaller office tasks out of the way, and other days I am writing
different kinds of pieces, taking pictures around campus, and/or putting
together ads and posters.

I enjoy designing my own typefaces, photography, knitting,
and anything else that is crafty. I also really enjoy taking walks with my
husband along Lake Michigan.

Something I am really looking forward to is getting to know
the students better and learning more about Shepherds. I am also
really looking forward to coaching the Special Olympics soccer teams again this coming fall!

At the end of the exercise, Instructor Sarah
Kolkman debriefed the students, asking them why having an elevator speech prepared could be
beneficial to them. Students agreed that this would help them with first
impressions and make introductions less awkward and choppy. They also stated
the value that such an elevator speech could have for them in an employment
setting or when applying for a job.

Here are some of the student's reflections
about elevator speeches:

Mrs. Kolkman asked, "Why is it important to have an elevator speech
memorized? How will you use this speech this year?"

"Because you never know who you will meet and it might
be a very important person. It will be helpful for interviews and for
other speeches in other classes and in life. it also is going to be
really good for when we have a big speech in class or in a job." -
Gretchen

"If you have an elevator speech you will have a better
future. I can use this in class and out of school and the more you
practice the better you will be" - Nee Dow

"It can bring others together" - Leah

"So you can be ready for unexpected visitors who want
to know what you have been doing in Shepherds College and what the school is
all about" - Hannah